WESTFIELD: Debbie Petersen, 57, passed away at home on Thursday, May 28, 2015 after a brief battle with cancer. She enjoyed her friends, her cats, traveling, reading, scrapbooking, embroidering, and old movies. Debra Dianne McCord was born December 2, 1957 to Harold R. McCord and Elaine T. Dai (Rhude) in Denison, IA. She graduated Dunlap High School in 1976, and married Ronald Jurgen Petersen in Lake View, Iowa on June 11, 1982. The couple moved from Kiron, IA to Austin, TX in 1989, and moved to Westfield in 1993. Debbie was preceded in death by her father Harold, paternal grandparents George and Vera (Hack) McCord, and maternal grandparents Theodore and Hattie (Doidge) Dai. She is survived by her husband; mother Elaine and husband Larry Ruhde of Carroll, Iowa; sister Cheryl and husband Leo Block of Omaha, Nebraska; brother Keith McCord of Denison, Iowa; stepmother Nancy McCord of Pisgah, Iowa; sister Darcy and husband Jamie Winther of Pisgah, Iowa; and many other relatives and friends. There will be a memorial gathering on Friday, June 5, 2015 from 5-7PM in the Firtion Adams FS, 76 Broad St., Westfield, MA. A memorial will be held in Iowa later in the summer. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Debra’s name may be directed to Noble Visiting Nurse and Hospice, 77 Mill St. Westfield, MA 01085. www.noblehospice.org www.firtionadams.com
